NEW YORK — For a little while during the last week in May, while
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart was on a scheduled weeklong hiatus, John Oliver had the
offices all to himself. In an otherwise deserted conference room, Oliver, a British-born comedian
and
Daily Show correspondent, was lounging beneath a giant
National Geographic map of the world. Asked how he was doing, he replied, “I’m fine.” He
paused. “I’m excited.” Another pause. “I’m nervous.”

These were among the last moments that Oliver, 36, would have for reflection before occupying
Stewart’s chair as guest host of
The Daily Show for a three-month span that begins today. It’s a rare arrangement, one of
the few times that the Comedy Central late-night series has put anyone else but Stewart behind the
desk (necessitated this time by the fact that he is directing a movie).

For Oliver, who joined the show in 2006, the temporary job is an honor, a career opportunity and
— when he allows himself to acknowledge his feelings — no small source of anxiety. He spoke about
preparing to fill in for Stewart (who will return on Sept. 3) and Oliver’s continuing efforts to
book Queen Elizabeth II as a guest.

Q: What have you been doing these days before you take over as host?

A: I’m on an extremely strict physical workout regimen. I want to get ripped. I guess nothing in
particular. Everything will fundamentally stay the same, in terms of the way that the show runs.
Jon built it to operate in a certain process, so that process really has to stay. It’s like a
NASCAR driver giving keys to his car to a member of his pit crew. I fundamentally understand how
the engine works; I just never have driven it that fast before.

Q: How did Stewart approach you?

A: He’d written this movie a while ago. We talked about what would happen if the money came
through to make the movie. Then he called me up and said, “We’ve got the money — I’m going to shoot
it this summer. Would you do it?” To which I guess the only answer is yes.

Q: There was no hesitation?

A: I’ll do anything for him, whether it’s hosting this show or disposing of a body.

Q: Is there anything you’ve had to learn from Jon about running the show?

A: I guess I’ve not learned anything about individual aspects of the show — I knew them. But in
terms of how he’s able to oversee the writing and the production of what the script needs every
day, that has been interesting. What he’s always told us is you want to make sure that the spine of
the argument is in shape. You can write jokes at any point of the day.

Q: Do you have supreme authority to decide what stays and what goes?

A: I definitely like the term “supreme authority.” It has a Kim Jong Un ring to it. It’s an
intensely collaborative workplace. It’ll be about continuing that collaboration throughout the day.
At some point, one person has to make a decision, so that will be the point at which the supreme
leader, for three months shall he reign — that is when I’ll be that point man.

Q: In your first week, you have guests such as Seth Rogen, Armando Iannucci and Fareed Zakaria.
Are these people you chose?

A: Armando Iannucci is one of my heroes. As I was growing up, he was probably the most
influential comic voice that I had. The only way I may be able to say thank you is to invite him on
a television show, where we’re both one step removed from having to directly deal with each other
on a human level. Hillary Kun, the guest booker, and I have been talking about who might be
interesting to have come on and trying to get a balance of people. And trying to get the Queen.

Q: How are those discussions coming along?

A: It’s early stages. Until I hear a hard “No,” then it’s going to be worth pursuing.